New milestone reached as temporary bridge on A830 opens as part of £10M bridge improvement scheme22 Aug 2016

MILESTONE REACHED AS TEMPORARY BRIDGE ON A830 OPENS

The first milestone has been reached during the most recent bridge improvement project on the A830 with the opening of a new temporary bridge to traffic at Ranochan this week.

The £10M bridge improvement programme will see a total of seven bridges replaced and two refurbished along the ‘Road to the Isles’, one of Scotland’s most scenic routes.

Ranochan Bridge, approximately six miles west of Glenfinnan, is the latest bridge to be replaced and the project is progressing well with the completion of a temporary road bridge to ensure the A830 remains open to motorists during construction.

Further along the A830, work to replace another bridge at Arieniskill is continuing with the temporary bridge expected to open to traffic next week.

Once construction is completed the temporary bridges will be removed and used in future bridge replacement projects.

Ranochan and Arienskill are the fourth and fifth bridges to be replaced on the A830, with the first at Dearg opened to traffic in December 2014 and two at Garbh and Utha completed in 2015. Design is underway for the next two bridges in the programme, Criche and Shlatach, with construction due on-site in 2017 and 2018.

The new bridges are wider than the old structures, and the designs have incorporated stone from the old bridges to help the new bridges blend in with their rural Highland surroundings.

Construction of the new bridges has to commence during the summer due to environmental restrictions around the sensitive watercourses, with each structure expected to take up to six months to complete.

Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative said: “We are delighted that the schemes at Ranochan and Arieniskill Bridges are progressing well, and the installation of the temporary bridges will help ensure that any disruption to motorists is kept to a minimum while we carry out the upgrades.

“The £10M investment into nine bridges on the route will help ensure that the scenic “Road to The Isles” is kept to a safe standard for years to come.

“We thank motorists for their continued patience while we carry out the bridge upgrades, and, as with the previous three bridge replacement schemes, we urge them to take care and adhere to any traffic management that is in place for their safety.”

Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland at www.trafficscotland.org or twitter @trafficscotland.